At least two persons, including a woman, died during Lord Jagannath's car festival in Puri on Thursday, official sources said.
While a 32-year-old woman identified as K Rabana Amma of Waltier in Andhra Pradesh died on the way to hospital while complaining of chest pain, the district headquarters hospital here received the body of a 65-year-old man as well.
"The woman died on way to hospital. She had chest pain. Her death has nothing to do with the festival," chief district medical officer (CDMO) Gyanedra Kumar Sahu told PTI.
The CDMO said the volunteers brought the body of an unidentified person, aged about 65 years, away from the crowd near the chariot of Lord Balabhadra.
Though several devotees claimed that the elderly died due to a stampede like situation, district collector of Puri Arabinda Agarwal denied the allegation.
"There is no stampede so far," he said.